Snow chains or Snow Socks?
Discussion
Last November, I jumped on the Pistonheads 'winter tyres' bandwagon, and bought a set of spare alloys and a set of Dunlop Wintersport 3D tyres for the girlfriends 120D, on the grounds that she has a 10 mile drive to work each day, and her car is rear wheel drive... So anything to help her get there and back safely is a bonus.
After 2 snow-laden winters, there was literally nothing more than a sprinkle last year, so they were somewhat of a waste of money, but at least she has them now in preperation for the next few winter seasons!
Based on the lack of snow last year, and the fact that worst case scenario I can work from home or walk to the office in 25 mins, I have decided not to invest in winter tyres myself, but purchase either some snow socks or snow chains that I can stick in the back of my daily work hack Astravan in case of a large unexpected flurry and I need to get home.
Anyone got any experience of either of these options before I spend money? I notice in Europe, it seems to be 50/50 between socks and chains, but someone told me the chains are a massive pain in the arse to fit?
Thanks!
After 2 snow-laden winters, there was literally nothing more than a sprinkle last year, so they were somewhat of a waste of money, but at least she has them now in preperation for the next few winter seasons!
Based on the lack of snow last year, and the fact that worst case scenario I can work from home or walk to the office in 25 mins, I have decided not to invest in winter tyres myself, but purchase either some snow socks or snow chains that I can stick in the back of my daily work hack Astravan in case of a large unexpected flurry and I need to get home.
Anyone got any experience of either of these options before I spend money? I notice in Europe, it seems to be 50/50 between socks and chains, but someone told me the chains are a massive pain in the arse to fit?
Thanks!
NinjaPower said:
Anyone got any experience of either of these options before I spend money? I notice in Europe, it seems to be 50/50 between socks and chains, but someone told me the chains are a massive pain in the arse to fit?
Massive pain in the arse to fit, plus when you have to fit them, your hands will ice up as well.In the UK I'd go with socks as the snow just won't be deep for long (unless you live in the middle of nowhere), but everywhere else would be chains.
Had to use chains on the Mustang in Scotland a couple of years ago - WOW. Simply amazing. From zero grip to total grip even in 6-7" deep snow. Wish I had them in the Alps the other week in fact as it threw down 12" overnight (August 31st!), driving down Stelvio without chains or socks was 'interesting' shall we say. More like skiing in a car.
Chains are (apparently) for when there's snow everywhere. They take longer to put on and take off but are strong.
I have snow socks for the wife's car, easy to put on and take off, but wouldn't last long if the snow turns to slush. But for ordinary UK conditions they're perfect... They get us up and down the hills.
Winter tyres and rims don't have to cost a lot though, we got VW golf steel rims and Pirelli winters almost new for £160 on eBay. There's no substitute for having the right tyres.
I have snow socks for the wife's car, easy to put on and take off, but wouldn't last long if the snow turns to slush. But for ordinary UK conditions they're perfect... They get us up and down the hills.
Winter tyres and rims don't have to cost a lot though, we got VW golf steel rims and Pirelli winters almost new for £160 on eBay. There's no substitute for having the right tyres.
I swear by winter tyres, but my company will only pay for them on certain vehicles.
Luckily the socks that fit one of our cars, also fit my van. Got me to places other drivers couldn't reach, and to customers who didn't expect to even venture out themselves.
Very impressive, easy to use, but only durable if you can be bothered jumping out to take them off/refit them every 20 mins.
Luckily the socks that fit one of our cars, also fit my van. Got me to places other drivers couldn't reach, and to customers who didn't expect to even venture out themselves.
Very impressive, easy to use, but only durable if you can be bothered jumping out to take them off/refit them every 20 mins.
swerni said:
Here we go again.
If it snows, I shall be leaving the cars on the drive.
job done!
Well, yes I agree, as you will see from my post I intend on walking to work in the case of waking up to snow.If it snows, I shall be leaving the cars on the drive.
job done!
However, unfortunately I do not posses a crystal ball, and never know if it is going to snow while I'm out and about somewhere...
My job involves partially being in an office and partially driving to various sites over rural Cumbria, and if it snows randomly and heavily like it can do, I would like some form of 'get me home' option!
-Pete- said:
Winter tyres and rims don't have to cost a lot though, we got VW golf steel rims and Pirelli winters almost new for £160 on eBay. There's no substitute for having the right tyres.
Thats a good deal you got there.I was quite lucky with the girlfriends winters, got a set of 16" E46 alloys in mint condition locally for £50 and then got a good price on some Dunlop Wintersports, but it still cost me about £350 all in.
C.A.R. said:
I wish I could walk home from work in 25 minutes! More like 2.5 hours!
Seriously if it's only that far to work surely you have no need for either?!
As per my post above, it's not the getting to work that matters, it's the getting back home from a work assignment if I get sent out to a rural site somewhere and it comes on to snow heavily.Seriously if it's only that far to work surely you have no need for either?!
I've seen it go from a clear sky to 4 inches deep in a hour on some days, and you just don't really know when thats going to happen!
On the Cumbrian roads, the traffic isn't heavy so snow can get a chance to build up quite quickly.
My boss is not the type to fork out money for preventative measures (hence him letting his daughter borrow a work van despite it having a completely shagged tyre, big gashes in the sidewall!), so just thinking about what I will do if I get stuck out a long way from home due to snow...
I will go to an inn-type BnB, have a big expensive pub meal and a few pints, I will sleep in a nice comfortable bed overnight, and I will take the grumpy sod the receipts when I get back, as well as a few hours of overtime it will inevitably take me to get to the inn from the motorway carpark...
Last winter the dopey chap who's sort of #2 in the company was saying about sleeping in his car if he got stuck out a long way because of snow. He's welcome to but 'my' Combo hasn't got any insulation or a bench or anywhere to recline the seats or owt
Will swap to the 'winters' for my car though in late November as I've bought 'em so might as well use 'em. Plus I live on a slight hill so it's fun not having to do a 'run up' like all the allseason L200's and stuff have to.
I will go to an inn-type BnB, have a big expensive pub meal and a few pints, I will sleep in a nice comfortable bed overnight, and I will take the grumpy sod the receipts when I get back, as well as a few hours of overtime it will inevitably take me to get to the inn from the motorway carpark...
Last winter the dopey chap who's sort of #2 in the company was saying about sleeping in his car if he got stuck out a long way because of snow. He's welcome to but 'my' Combo hasn't got any insulation or a bench or anywhere to recline the seats or owt
Will swap to the 'winters' for my car though in late November as I've bought 'em so might as well use 'em. Plus I live on a slight hill so it's fun not having to do a 'run up' like all the allseason L200's and stuff have to.
NinjaPower said:
As per my post above, it's not the getting to work that matters, it's the getting back home from a work assignment if I get sent out to a rural site somewhere and it comes on to snow heavily.
I've seen it go from a clear sky to 4 inches deep in a hour on some days, and you just don't really know when thats going to happen!
On the Cumbrian roads, the traffic isn't heavy so snow can get a chance to build up quite quickly.
If it's rural, then go for chains. Of course if you get more than six inches or so you'll be stuck anyway. Time to buy a V8 Land Rover.I've seen it go from a clear sky to 4 inches deep in a hour on some days, and you just don't really know when thats going to happen!
On the Cumbrian roads, the traffic isn't heavy so snow can get a chance to build up quite quickly.
swerni said:
Wonder if they do them to fit over 325 tyres?
Now that would be fun;)
Ha ha Now that would be fun;)
I did once have to drive that particular vehicle home, 2 years ago, in a couple of inches of snow after I came out of a nightclub at 2am and was staggered to find it had indeed snowed.
It was an extremely interesting drive to say the least... I had to place two drunk girls in the rear seats to add ballast!
NinjaPower said:
Thats a good deal you got there.
I was quite lucky with the girlfriends winters, got a set of 16" E46 alloys in mint condition locally for £50 and then got a good price on some Dunlop Wintersports, but it still cost me about £350 all in.
There is an upfront cost, of course, but surely winter tyres don't actually cost that much more over their life time than running just summers tyres (unless you've found a way to use both sets at once I was quite lucky with the girlfriends winters, got a set of 16" E46 alloys in mint condition locally for £50 and then got a good price on some Dunlop Wintersports, but it still cost me about £350 all in.
)? It's just the cost of the alloys, if you go that route.I have an e46 and did similar to you a couple of years ago; second-hand BMW alloys + some Goodyear M+S tyres. Don't know how it would have been on the summers, but I've been glad to have them whenever we actually have snow and ice.
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